Cwmgors a'r Waun

A genealogy/local history site embracing the villages of Cwmgors and Gwauncaegurwen
and the parish of Llangiwg, together with the Amman Valley  

 Site Contents

Local Books & Articles

Cwmgors/Gwaun-cae-gurwen/Tairgwaith

Amman Valley, Betws & Llandybie

Brynamman & Cwmllynfell

Gwrhyd, Rhydyfro and Baran

Pontardawe/Gellinudd/Cilybebyll/Alltwen/Ystalyfera/Ynysmeudwy

General

Picture Gallery

Many of these photographs detailed below are from original postcards, many are undated and suggestions for dating them would be gratefully received.

Copyright Notice re Photographs

I make no representations whatsoever regarding the copyright position of any site material, especially photographs. In any event the latter are not available for copying by any method whatsoever without my prior agreement.
There are some photographs where I have been unable to determine current copyright ownership to seek permission to use the material on the site and I would welcome contact from anyone who can clarify this for me

Maps

 

 

 

If you click on the map/diagram on the opening site page this takes you to a map of the general area on the Multimap site. In addition, once the required map is visible, clicking on the link Aerial Photos link in the left hand Navigation Box will bring up an aerial photograph of the area.

For a map of a village as it was in the mid C19 go to Landmark , I recommend using  the County Gazetteer option  

These two maps are on this site;                                                                                                                                                

• Cwmgors c 1891
• Cwmgors c 1907

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Newspapers in the Tawe and Amman Valley

 

 

 

 

Ebenezer Rees's first attempt in 1884 to set up a newspaper based in Cwm Tawe was shortlived. He tried again in 1898, starting the newspaper entitled Llais Llafur, which had a strong following in the area. However many people felt that there was a need for a local paper in the Amman Valley.

In 1909, Gwilym Vaughan, who lived in Brynaman and ran a printing business in Ammanford, started the Amman Valley Times. This was not a great succes and folded after a few months.

GV was not deterred. In 1913 he founded the weekly Amman Valley Chronicle, under the editorship of Thomas Davies (Awstin), an experienced journalist. This time the newspaper was a popular success, and GV was able to promote his favourite causes, the local rugby team and male voice choir, and also the Liberal Party (he was elected as Carmarthenshire county councillor during his period of control). The English language predominated, though there was a fair amount of Welsh language material also.

Unfortunately he was less successful as a businessman, and when a catastrophic fire destroyed the printing works in 1915, he was forced to sell out. The paper continued under new management until 1959, when it was absorbed into the South Wales Guardian Group.

A set of copies on microfilm can be found in Carmarthen Library.

(partly based on an article in the Journal of the Amman Valley History Society by Huw Walters)

[Anna Brueton April 2001]

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Llyfrau Gleision

[Blue Books]

The Report of the Commission of Enquiry into State Education in Wales, 1847

 

 

"In the most Southern Iskennen Hundred lies the parish of Betws. This parish contains a few agricultural labourers. The cottages are chiefly those of colliers. The farms are small and farmers are obliged to work on their own lands. Wages are 9 shillings a week with food and accommodation of the labourers own finding, or 8 pennies a day with food. Colliers earn about 18 shillings a week. The people are industrious and more sober than their neighbours in Llandybie parish. There is a fair school room in the village but the place is too poor and thinly populated to support a master. There is a prospect of very extensive works being carried out there."

Betws Dame School;

"This school is held by an old woman in the end of the school room newly erected in the village. Not one of the scholars present could read a single word in the new testament accurately, indeed from what I heard from herself, I doubt whether the school mistress could read a chapter with any degree of accuracy."

NB, the new testament would have been in English and in 1847 Welsh would likely have been the only language understood by the children.

[This extract from ' Betws Mas o'r Byd ]

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Trade & Telephone Directories

 

 

 

These extracts for local villages/parishes from various trade directories are to be found on the pages of Genuki. All those from Kelly's are taken from Cds published   by Archive CD Books

• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923  - covers  Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, Rhydyfro, Tairgwaith,Ynysmudw  and Llangiwg parish in general
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923  - Extracts relating to Brynamman, Cwmllynfell and Quarter Bach
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923  - Extracts for Betws parish
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 -  section for Cwmamman
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 -  section for Ystalyfera
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - Pontardawe section
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1923      - Private Residents and Commercial for Ammanford
•  
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910 Covers Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, and Rhydyfro  and  Llanguicke parish in general with the exception of Pontardawe and Ystalyfera which have their own sections on the CD
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910   Brynamman, Cwmllynfell and Quarter Bach
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910   Ammanford (town and parish)
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910   Betws, Garnant & Glanamman
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1910  -   Ystalyfera

•  
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1895   Betws parish (including Glanamman and Garnant)
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1895 for the  ' Swansea Valley', this extract covers only the villages of Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, Rhydyfro  and  Llanguicke parish in general
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1895   Brynamman and Quarter Bach
•  
• Slaters Commercial Directory 1871 - Llangiwg parish
• Slaters' Commercial Directory 1871  -   Ystalyfera
•  

• Telephone Directory 1920  Llandilo area - transcribed for local villages

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Local Wills

 

 

 

 

See also Farms for census and other details of various farms mentioned

The wills of these people are featured below;

• Llewellyn Bevan (1827) of Nantygaseg isa
• Daniel Jones (1841) of Cwmnanthopkin Isha
• Noah Jones (1775) of Cwmbach
• John Thomas (1824) of Cwmnanthir

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Daniel Jones

 

 

 

Contributed by Margaret Jones.

Daniel Jones of Cwmnanthopkin Isha died in 1841 and his will specifies in part:

"I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary Jones my two cows and a horse I also
give and bequeath unto my said wife the use of all my household furniture
during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my widow
and after her decease or intermarriage which shall first happen I give and
bequeath the same unto my daughters Hannah Hopkins and Mary Bevan equally to
be divided between them amongst them share and share alike I also give and
bequeath unto Margaret Jones the illegitimate daughter of my son Daniel
Jones the sum of Twenty pounds to be paid her on her attaining the age of
twenty one years but without any interest in the mean while And as to all
the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever
and wheresoever and of what nature quality or kindsoever the same may be I
give and bequeath the same unto my said daughters Hannah Hopkins and Mary
Bevan their executors and administrators and assigns equally to be divided
between and amongst them share and share alike And lastly I do hereby
nominate constitute and appoint my son in law William Hopkin of Goitre Garth
in the parish of Languicke and William Bevan of Twll y Gwithil in the parish
of Langavelach joint executors of this my last will and Testament. In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty eighth day
of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one. "

Witnesses were Evan Jones and John Rees and the estate was declared at under 20 pounds

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Llewellyn Bevan

 

 

 

 

Contributed by Margaret Jones.

From the will of Llewellyn Bevan written in 1827:

"I do ordain and apoint my Dear wife ann to posess and enjoy all that
tenement of land commonly called and known by the name of Nantygaseg isa
During her life time wit the lese of twllygwyddyl and after her life the
benefit or profit of the afore said lese to my son William Bevan, and I do
order him to pay six pounds yearly and evry year to my son Hopkin Bevan, &
to Rachel Evan the sum of four pounds yearly and the hay of a spot caled
truan and the little field that join her Hous down til the river, and one
pounds yearly to Mallt the wife of John Hopkin, and two pounds yearly to
Elizabeth wife of Evan Johnes.
farther I Do order my son Evan to possess and enjoy that tenement of land
caled nantygaseg ise forever after his mother time, and the said Evan to pay
the undermensioned terms of money to the several persons hereafter named to
John Bevan gelywren ise forty pounds, to the Congregation of Christiance
meeting at Tynnycod twenty pounds, to John Philip twenty pounds, twenty
pounds to the widdow of Coedy falde, and ten pounds for John Cook and Eighty
pounds for my son Hopkin, and twenty pounds to my Dater Rachel and the hay
of wain fach dan gercwan Every year During her life and to my three Daters
of my first wife nine pounds to be equally Devided between them Farther that
half the stok and crop of twllygwiddul to my wife."

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Noah Jones

 

 

 

Contributed by Caryl Jones whose ancestor John Harris owned Cwmbach subsequently

 

The will of the Rev Noah Jones - proved January 1776

THE FIRST DAY OF JULY AND  IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE

I SO HEREBY GIVE AND LEAVE UNTO MY NEPHEW AND HEIR APPARENT JOHN JONES OF

THE PARISH OF BETTWS IN THE COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN YEOMAN ALL THAT TENEMENT

BUILDINGS AND LANDS COMMONLY CALLED TIR Y CWMBACH IN CAGURWEN HAMLET IN THE

PARISH OF LLANGUIKE IN THE COUNTY OF GLAMORGAN WHICH IS COPYHOLD OF TO (SIC)

LIVES UNTO MY SAID NEPHEW JOHN JONES HIS HEIRS AND ASIGNS FOREVER ACCORDING

TO THE CUSTOM OF THE MANOR OF CAEGURWEN IN WHICH THE SAID PREMISES ARE

SITUATED.

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John Thomas of Cwmnanthir

 

 

 

 

Contributed by Rina Callingham (April 2006), copied with permission from the National Library of Wales

 

Manor of Kaegurwen in the County of Glamorgan

At the Court Baron of Capel Hanbury Leigh Esquire Lord of the said Manor Let in and for the said Manor at the Dwelling house of Evan Bevan on Thursday the seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five before Alexander Cuthbertson Gentleman Deputy Steward of the said Manor.

Abraham Thomas of Bailyglas Isha in the parish of Languicke in the County of Glamorgan Yeoman came this day into open Court and in a kith oath and saith that John Thomas late of Cwmnanthyr in the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid Yeoman now deceased did on the first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four duly sign seal and publish and declare the paper writing hereunto annexed as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of the said Deponent and Moses Thomas and Owen Jones Yeomen both of the parish of Languicke aforesaid in the County aforesaid and that the said Deponent and Moses Thomas and Owen Jones did severally subscribe their names to the said paper writing as witnesses to the due execution thereof in the presence of the said Testator and of each other and the said Deponent further saith that the name "John Thomas" set and subscribed near to the seal affixed thereto as the party executing the same is of the proper hand writing of the said John Thomas the said Testator and that the several names " Moses Thomas, " Owen Jones," and " Abraham Thomas" also set and subscribed as witnesses attesting the due execution thereof are of the several and respective hand writing of the said Moses Thomas and Owen Jones and of this Deponent and that the said Testator John Thomas at the time of executing the said last Will and Testament was of sound and perfect mind and memory and understanding

Sworn in open court this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five - before me

Alex Cuthbertson
Deputy Steward

 

The Will

In the name of God Amen I John Thomas of Cwmnanthir in the Parish of Languick and County of Glamorgan Yeoman being sick in Body but of perfect mind and memory make and Ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following

First I give and devise and bequeath unto my Dearly beloved wife all that Messuage and Tenement of Lands called Cwmnanthir in her possession to assign over unto John Hopkin of Gould in the Parish of Cadoxton juxta neath already sold by me John Thomas and if John Hopkin will not completely finish as before mentioned to any other person I authorise her set over and sell and assign the Provision to some other Person

All the rest of my effects I give unto her and I appoint her the sole executrix of this my last will and Testament revoking all Others in witness whereof I put my hand and seal in the presence of us this 1st Day of March 1824.

                                                                                                                            John J Thomas

Witnesses
Moses Thomas
Owen Jones
Abraham Thomas

 

This will was produced before me the 26th day of August 1824 by the written named Testatrix - Mary Thomas and the personal estate of the Testator was sworn to be under the value of fifty pounds.

David Prothero. Surrogate

Notes

Transcribed as seen - with the original punctuation (or lack of it) and highlighting of  parts of the documents.  
Copy of will obtained from National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Note of interest:   
Capel Hanbury Leigh, the Lord of the Manor of Kaegurwen, was the great grandson of the John Hanbury who introduced the rolling method of producing tinplate at Pontypool.  Capel inherited the Manor of Kaegurwen through his marriage to Lady Molly Ann Mackworth - the young widow of Sir Robert Mackworth of Gnoll Castle.  Molly Ann was herself the daughter of John Nathaniel Miers of the Ynyspenllwch tinplate works near Clydach.

The Court Baron was the means by which the administrative business of the Manor was organised and conducted for the benefit of the Lord of the Manor and his tenants.  It was overseen by the Steward.

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Pontardawe and District Operatic Society

 

 

 

Also see Saron (Rhydyfro) Operatic Society

See also  Picture Gallery (Pontardawe 6)

I have extracted these details from an undated newspaper cutting.
(Colin Richards tells me that he thinks it was in 1938 or 1939 - his uncle, Ross Richards, a well known singer in the Swansea valley, and a former member of the Carl Rosa Opera Company, took the main part of the Mikado, and Colin's  father, Oswald Richards, who also had a fine voice, is listed in the article as a member of the men's chorus.)  

Pontardawe Operatic Society

Presentation of the Mikado

Successful First Venture

It is not often that a newly formed operatic society undertakes for its first presentation, a work of such quality as Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado', but members of the Pontardawe Society were ambitious enough to feel that they could do ample justice to this comic opera, which for many years has appealed to all lovers of music.

And their ambitions were realised to the full; for the Society gave a presentation of 'The Mikado' that would have been hard to beat in any of the larger provincial towns of the country.

.......................the president of the Society is Mr Charles G Gilbertson JP........joint hon. secretaries were Mr E P Hopkin of Smithfield, Pontardawe, and Mr Idris Jones of Brecon Rd, Pontardawe.............Mr E Thissen was producer....... Mr Trevor Davies of Clydach was musical director......... Mr Percy Chapman was the accompanist.

The cast list was;

• Mr Ross Richards (Ystalyfera) - Mikado of Japan
• Mr Rees Davies (Rhydyfro) - Nanki-Poo
• Mr Ernest Davies (Clydach) - Ko-Ko
• Mr Arthur Gwyn Davies - Pooh-Bah
• Miss Hetty Rees (Clydach) - Yum-Yum
• Miss Gertie Francis - Pitti-Sing
• Miss M G Jones - Peep-Bo
• Mr Stanford Thomas - Pish-Tush
• Madame Sally Davies (formerly Brynamman) - Katisha
• Master David Price - page boy
• Plus chorus of ladies and gentlemen

In the article all the principals are praised for fine performances but to give an example I will quote fully the section that relates to my uncle Rees Davies (Rhys Tirbach) from Rhydyfro (originally  Cwmgors).

"Nanki-Poo, the Mikado's son, first seen as a wandering minstrel, sang his way into the hearts of all. Mr Rees Davies is a singer of rare quality, and although the demands made on him were many, he rose to the occasion each time. Especially good was he in the recitative, 'And have I journeyed for a month' sung with Pooh-Bah, and the duet 'Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted' sung with Yum-Yum..."

The choruses also came in for fine praise and they are listed here.

Ladies chorus;

• Mrs Trevor Davies, Mrs Danny Davies, Mrs Iestyn Davies, Mrs John Morgan, Mrs W J Loyd
• Mrs Tal James, Mrs A G Rees, Mrs M Davies, Mrs J J Harries, Mrs W Beresford
• The Misses Annie Jenkins, V Giddings, B Lewis, G Joseph, E Williams, Mary Jones, P Phillips, Annie Williams, N Davies, J Davies, and R Lewis

Men's chorus;

• Ogwin Williams, Glyn Price, Rees Morgan, Davie james, Eynon Davies, Evan davies, W Extance, Tom james, Oswald Richards, Wm H Davies, Syd Davies, D W Thomas, Lew Jenkins, W Beresford and Richard Cooper.

The orchestra was complimented on its splendid playing, the members names are not extracted here although listed in the article, they were also members of the Swansea Festival Orchestra.

The article concludes;

"The performances were of the first order, and one trusts that this will not be the last appearance of a society that promises to do much to to improve the culture of Pontardawe and district.

 

Saron (Rhydyfro) Operatic Society

 

 

 

Extract from an undated newspaper article (but see above).

Esther the Beautiful Queen

A Capital performance

In undertaking the presentation (at the Public Hall, Pontardawe)  of the sacred cantata 'Esther the Beautiful Queen' (by William B Bradbury)  the Saron, Rhydyfro, Operatic Society revealed ambitious desires, for the work is one that demands good individual singing and acting and a blending of the union choruses.

That it was portrayed in so able and convincing a manner is a tribute to the society; and their performance, without any exaggeration, can be labelled first class.

Two of the characters were outstanding.........Miss Hettie Rees of Clydach fulfilled the role of Esther ...... in almost 'the manner born'........Mr W H Davies of Ynismeudw portrayed Haman......created the most favourable impression................... with Mr A Gwyn Davies of Trebanos ......doing exceedingly well in the role of King Ahaseurus, a meticulous portrayal.......the same can be said for Mr Rees Davies of Rhydyfro who enacted Mordecai the Jew, the possessor of a more than useful tenor voice he can look back with pride on his share of the entertainment........Madame Annie Smith, also of Rhydyfro portrayed Zeresh wife of Haman and her rich contralto was one of the features of the evening..

Other cast members to be complimented were  Madam J Phillips of Rhydyfro, Mr Edwin Clement of Rhydyfro, Mr Sid Jenkins of Rhydyfro, Miss Winnie Jones of Rhydyfro, Miss Esther Ann Rees of Rhydyfro, Mr Ezer James of Rhydyfro, and Mr S James.

The chorus and orchestra were also complimented on fine performances.
The latter comprised David Price, S Sammals, W Kersey, David Davies, T Jones, A Palmer, C Francis and J Carpenter.

The Chairman, the Rev Idwal Jones, pastor of Saron, to which cause the proceeds were to be donated, thanked the audience in the interval. The chairman of the committee was Mr David Davies of Llyscoed, treasurer Mr Evan Williams of Baily Glas, and secretary Mr Edwin Clement of Glannant. ...

 

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Corner Shopping

 

 

 

(From 'Through the Decades' ISBN 0 9524554 04 ) 

The extract  is abbreviated to the original data supplied by the family;

The history of Osbourne House in Garnant ................

Owner Mrs Margaret Evans was known as Mrs Evans Siop y Lamb or even Mrs Evans Siop Fach.
Her story began more than half a century earlier. In 1891, the mother of five children, she lost her husband after an accident in the tinworks. At that period, there was no compensation in such cases. The young mother brought up her family alone.

Margaret tackled the task with great energy and enterprise. When the railway line and viaduct were being constructed behind her house, she rose very early to bake individual small loaves, which she sold, with butter, cheese and cans of tea, to the navvies for their breakfasts.

A billiard room was built alongside. Siop y Lamb became noted for such things as quality confectionery, lovely Belgian dolls - and other toys - at Christmas.

Although she prospered commercially, Margaret Evans was not finished with tragedy. In 1895, one of her daughters died suddenly, a few days after her eleventh birthday. Another daughter died in 1913 at the age of 30, leaving an eight-year old son to be fostered. Her only son was killed in a car crash at the age of 34.

Margaret Evans survived until November, 1945, keeping an active interest in the business until the end. The shop remained open until January 1966, when it closed after the sudden death of Mrs Evans' daughter, Mrs Maggie Hanson.

No trace of the business now remains. The building was sold as a dwelling house. The billiard room has been pulled down to make room for a garage. Mrs Evans' descendants are scattered throughout Wales, England, Scotland and even New Zealand.

And yet the memory of the enterprise is not dead. There are several people who still treasure tea-sets and other articles of china from Siop Mrs Evans.

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Gwaith Y Lamb

 

 

 

See photographs in Garnant section of Picture Gallery

There seems to be very little written about the coal mine named after the adjoining Lamb pub in Garnant.

The book History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley by Ifor Davies mentions it in a short list of  'small mines in the area .... not having a long life......or employing many men...'.

It isn't listed by Joseph T. Robson, H.M.Inspector for the South Wales District in his Report for 1896.

Quite obviously, Osbourne House was there before the mine. It's hard to think that anyone would build a house knowing it would end up surrounded so closely on 3 sides by mining buildings, railway, dust and noise; indeed, the third photograph below shows clearly how the fabric of  Osbourne House's outbuildings had suffered.

The mine itself was on the Lamb side of the main road, a drift mine, under Betws Mountain. The overhead tramway allowed coal to be taken to the screening machines and then on to the trucks on the railway tracks below.

Additional comment from John Miles (12/04)
From what I know about the anthracite coalfield collieries, they were relatively small (the east Glamorgan mines often employed over 1000 men and this is typical for other parts of the UK), were fairly cheap to set up because they were slants on the outcrop and seem to have gone broke or changed ownership fairly frequently so this mine is typical

Further information;

Bobby Hunt from Garnant, who is now over 80 years, old remembers playing billiards in Mrs Chart's family billiard hall shown in the photo; he says it contained two billiard tables.
He also remembers Gwaith y Lamb working and says that it was on three levels.
One level was at the level of the railway line shown with the large trucks , another was at the same level as the shop (i.e.road level) and one overhead level which is shown in another picture.
The winding house is the large brick building shown behind the car in another picture. This winder pulled drams up from two drift mines, which constituted Gwaith y Lamb, as far as the winder itself. Men had then to manually push the drams across the road on two levels to the screening shed and also had to manually tip the coal from the drams when they arrived at the screening plant. The screened coal would then be tipped into the trucks waiting on the lower level.
The track and sidings on which these trucks operated ran to the main GWR line which was situated about 100 yards away from and behind the winding house.

Not far away there was another colliery called the Doctor's Colliery which was situated near Doctor's Road and the piece of land which was between the winding house and some cottages further along the road was used as allotments by the people who lived in the neighbouring cottages.
Further down the road some inhabitants of Bryncethin Road used to be able to dig best quality Peacock Vein coal from outcrops in their own gardens.

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Ystalyfera Chamber of Trade.

 

 

 

A list of members shown in the South Wales Voice, Dec 15 1928

Contributed by Anna Brueton

On page 6 - 7 is an article on Trade at Ystalyfera

Members of the Ystalyfera Chamber of Trade (Page 8)

• Morgan's Drapery Stores, Gurnos Road
• Mr. Luther Lloyd, Ironmongery & Boot & Shoe Store
• Mr. Edgar D. Morgan, Gurnos Post Office
• Mr. Tudor W. Rees, Grocer & Milliner
• Tudor's Garage
• Messrs. John Williams & Sons, Perth-y-Gwenyn
• Mr. W.I. Perkins, Oculist & Chemist
• Messrs D. Lloyd & Sons, Ironmongers & Boot Dealers
• Midland Bank, Ystalyfera
• Mr. H.J. Powell, J.P., General Outfitter
• Messrs W.P. Thomas, Ltd, Chemists
• Mr. E.W. James, Welsh & Colonial Stores, Godre'r Graig
• Mr. J.H. Jones, London House, Wern
• Mr. T.D. Phillips, The Boot Store, Commercial Street.
• Mr. J.R. Daniels, Gent's Outfitters, Commercial St.
• Mr. Joseph Davies, Grocer, &c, Manchester House
• Mr. D.E. Rees Men's Wear Specialist, Commercial Street
• Mr. T.L. Clatworthy, Jeweller, Commercial Street
• Mr. Griff. Jones. Provision Merchant, Panteg
• T. C. Arnold & Son, Ironmongers & Xmas Present Depot
• Hunt's Stores, Grocers etc.

There are photographs of all the above shops except the last 2, with an explanatory note:  "We greatly regret that through an unfortunate accident, we have been unable to include the photo blocks of the premises of Messrs T.C. Arnold and Son, and  Messrs Hunt's Stores - Ed. S.W.V. " ;  and advertisements for all except Mr Luther Lloyd (which may appear elsewhere in the paper).

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Ystalyfera - the cholera outbreak of 1866

 

 

 

For a more general coverage of the subject (with Swansea/Neath area coverage) see also Cholera in Wales by G Penrhyn Jones, National Library of Wales journal Vol X/3 Summer 1958.

 

From History of Pontardawe & District by John Henry Davies, 1967

It has been taught that cholera was caused by Vibrio cholera (Koch, 1886) and there was no reason to suppose that it was air borne.
At Ystalyfera, beyond all doubt, the culture ground of the Vibrio cholerae was the human body, and the discharges from it were the source of contagion. They infected the ground, the water or the immediate surroundings of the patient, the poison finding the entrance into the bodies of the healthy by means of food and drink, which became contaminated in various ways, e.g. by flies. Contaminated water was the most important, particularly in places without a public water supply. The dangerous species of cholerae was found " in excreta, contaminated water, soil, or sewage "

Dr. James Rogers, Ystalyfera, in 1866, described Ystalyfera;

" As a village on an abrupt hill side without any drainage, with very few privies, nearly all being on cesspools, many of them on higher ground than the neighbouring houses, were loathsome nuisances, percolating their contents into the soil below them; and in the instance where the first case of cholera occurred, the pavement of the back premises was ' squashy ' from this cause."

" That water supply was very scanty in quantity and very uncertain in quality, being little better than surface water, percolating through the shale tips and the drainage of the coal seams and colliery workings; so scarce was the water in the Iron Works that it was a common practice with the men to drink largely of the canal water, which was conveyed in pipes through various departments for the purposes of the Works. This water received the surface drainage of nearly all the houses in the village. In one house - an inn, the landlady fell a victim to the disease, and it will not appear surprising when I state the fact that in the yard at the back of the house, less than thirty feet square, were two pigsties, two privies on cesspools, fowl houses and a well; the said yard being wholly undrained, and it could have been effectively done for a less sum than five pounds - the poor woman had been warned of the dangerous condition of her premises - she had ample means, being a wealthy woman of her class, and one of the most cleanly women in her house I had ever met with. An open gutter running from this same yard into a field adjoining alongside the hedge, in front of a row of houses gave off a noisome stench. In these houses, several cases of the disease occurred." ( A Sketch of the Cholera Epidemic at Ystalyfera in the Autumn of 1866 by J Rogers, 1867)

The graveyards, some of them crammed with the dead, in one case, that of Pant-teg, standing on higher ground and surrounded by houses, the others unfit for the purpose of burial, became marked centres of virulence during the course of the epidemic. It was said that many bodies were conveyed to Llangiwg Church cemetery to be buried as cholera victims after being refused in other cemeteries. The poor who died in the Pontardawe workhouse were also buried there.

To-day, great improvements in water-supply and sanitation have nearly abolished waterborne diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, enteric fever and the like.

In 1849, cholera swept scores of important persons at Brynamman, and the first who fell a victim to the disease was William Herbert, Cwmnantmoel.
In the same period, cholera took many at Ystalyfera and people hastened to the chapels for refuge.'
In 1866, cholera took the lives of hundreds in the villages. People, terrified by the suddenness with which cholera claimed lives, attended chapels and scores of men and women became members of Pant-teg Independent chapel. At Craigcefnparc in the choleric epidemic of 1866, eighteen cases occurred, of which only one died.

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Neath Port Talbot Landmap Landscape Assessment

 

 

 

Final Report by White Consultants Dec 2004

Below are listed the areas covered in detail in the order they appear -  the pdf report itself is on http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/downloads/udp/complete_lowquality.pdf

 

1 Margam Marsh

2 Margam Burrows

3 Margam Country Park

4 Coedhirwaun

5 Coedhirwaun Scarp and open scarp tops

6 Mynydd Bromil, Mynydd Emroch & Mynydd Dinas

7 Mynydd Margam

8 Goytre Valley

9 Cefn Cethin

10 Mynydd Bycham

11 Cwm Afan and Cwm Pelenna

12 Mynydd Penhydd

13 Foel Trawsnant

14 Foel Fawr

15 Mynydd y Gelli

16 Briton Ferry Woods Aspect

17 Feol Fynyddau

18 Mynydd Resolfen, Craig-y-Llyn & Mynydd Ynyscorrwg

19 Neath

20 Gnoll Park

21 Hirfynydd

22 Banwen Pyrddin

23 Head of Dulais Valley

24 Dulais Valley

25 Mynydd Marchywel

26 Swansea valley

27 Mynydd Allt y grug

28 Slopes of Cefn Gwrhyd & Cwm Egel

29 Mynydd Uchaf, Mynydd Garth & Cefn Gwrhyd

30 East Pit

31 Cwm Aman

32 Cwm Gors, Gwaun Cae Gurwen & Abernant

33 Cwm Twrch

34 Nant Melyn & Bryn-chwyth

35 Bryn Mawr, Mynydd Carnllechart, Mynydd y Baran & Mynydd Gellionnen

36 Upper Clydach River valley & Lower slopes of Mynydd Gellionnen

37 Pontardawe, Rhos, Alltwen & Trebanos

38 Mynydd Drumau

39 Clydach valley, Cilybebyll & Cilffrew

40 Neath

41 Neath Estuary

42 Former Llandarcy Refinery

43 Jersey Marine

44 Earlswood

45 Crymlyn Bog

46 Cae'r Hendy

47 Elba Cresent

48 Baglan Bay works

49 Port Talbot, Sandfields, Baglan & Margam

50 Port Talbot Docks & Margam works

51 Cwmafan

52 Margam Sands / Aberavon Sands

53 Neath Estuary Mouth

---

THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF A GLAMORGAN PARISH

 

 

 

The article THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF A GLAMORGAN PARISH (Llangiwg); By Hugh Thomas, National Library of Wales journal Winter, 1975, Vol XIX/2 has the following references of particular local interest;

Population/occupations

"The progess of coalmining inevitably had its consequences for the parish. Population increased significantly from the 829 of 1801 to the 2,813 of 1841, largely as a result of immigration into the parish for by the latter year 946, nearly one-third of the parish's inhabitants, had been born outside the county of Glamorgan. There was a marked change in the occupational pattern of the parish --- between 1801 and 1831 the numbers of families dependent upon occupations other than agriculture had risen from 41 to 126.   
This change is illustrated by the baptismal register of the three Independent chapels of Pantteg, Carmel and Alltwen. The last named is in the neighbouring parish of Cilybebyll, but it is possible to identify those parents who were inhabitants of Llangiwg. Between 1826 and 1837 the minister of these three chapels, Rev. Philip Griffiths, recorded the occupations of 190 fathers whose 325 children he baptised. The largest group among them were the colliers who totalled 96, although 21 of these were first recorded as labourers. It would appear that these latter either started their working lives or came to the district to work as labourers but during these eleven years changed their occupations to coalmining.
The following are the parental occupations represented in the baptismal registers: Colliers-96*; Labourers - 48*; Farmers -- 43; Carpenters -- 5; Tailors -- 4; Weavers, Publicans, Cordwinders -- 3 each; Engineers, Hauliers - 2 each; Shopkeepers, Masons-- 1 each. (*Contain the 21 men who transferred from labouring to coalmining.)   
While it cannot be claimed that this occupational breakdown is comprehensive it does indicate the changes taking place and agrees closely with the pattern which emerges from the enumerators' census return for 1841.  By this year the total population of the parish had grown to 2,813 of whom 946 had been born outside the county. Worthy of note also is the fact that the most significant growth had taken place in those parts of the parish which had witnessed the most mumerous coalmining undertakings, Alltygrug and Caegurwen. In the case of the former the 197 inhabitants of 1801 had grown to 1,078 in 1841, while the latter's 224 had increased to 843 during the same period."

 

A closer examination of the changes which occurred within the parish of Llangiwg illustrates very clearly the nature of the impact of industrial growth upon population change. Of the four hamlets of the parish, Blaenegel was only marginally affected by industrial development, Parcel Mawr was subjected to the industrial undertakings of William Parsons and then William Gilbertson, in Caegurwen there was considerable expansion in coalmining and less substantial development in ironworking; but far and away the most conspicuous industrial growth was that associated with the Ystalyfera ironworks in the hamlet of Alltygrug. These variations are clearly reflected in the population changes which occurred within the parish during the first seventy years of the nineteenth century. During this period the population of Blaenegel did not quite double itself, that of Parcel Mawr increased almost six-fold; in Caegurwen the number of inhabitants increased by seven times; in Alltygrug, however, the increase was far greater for its population grew over twenty-fold. The following table shows the differences in growth rates within the parish

Population of the parish of Llangiwg, by hamlets

	Blaenegel	Parcel Mawr	Caegurwen	Alltygrug	Llangiwg
1801	111	297	224	197	829
1841	182	710	843	1,078	2,813
1851	200	897	1,316	1,816	4,229
1861	204	1,339	1,461	4,919	7,983
1871	202	1,706	1,586	4,818	8,312

Housing

"In 1801 the number of inhabited houses in the parish was no more than 161, of which some 120 were farmhouses. The remainder consisted of the few places of business which existed at the time, most of them inns or public houses, the houses and places of work of local craftsmen, weavers, blacksmiths and miners, and there were the cottages of labourers. The parish was thinly populated, its inhabitants living for the most part in isolated farmhouses and cottages. Only where a few dwellings were clustered around a min or inn were there any concentrations of population and these were very few. By 1871 there had been a radical change in the settlement pattern of the parish. The number of dwellings had increased more than ten-fold and their distribution had altered significantly. The expansion in house building obviously reflected the progress of industrialization in the different parts of the parish. The progress made in the different parts of the parish is shown in the following table: "

       Houses in the parish - by hamlets

Hamlet	1801	1841	1851	1861	1871	1874
Allt-y-grug	41	204	350	933	949	963
Blaenegel	30	36	35	35	34	41
Caegurwen	50	165	256	289	318	320
Parcel Mawr	40	136	176	273	336	352

 

"A small number of the dwellings which had made their appearance in the parish by the middle decades of the century were substantial houses built by the works' proprietors and, in the case of the larger of them, their managers, the few professional men and affluent businessmen. There were, of course, the older farmhouses and the places of business with living accommodation attached. Only at Ystalyfera in the hamlet of Alltygrug were there tenements in substantial numbers. The vast majority of the dwellings were recorded as cottages, small and with sleeping accommodation frequently in the roof or attic. The following table shows the different categories of dwellings recorded in the parish in 1863: "

 

	Farm- houses	Public-houses,etc	Houses & shops	Houses	Cottages	Tenements
Alltygrug	25	19	44	30	712	130
Blaenegel	17	-	-	1	22	-
Caegurwen	36	8	2	8	244	-
Parcel Mawr	34	16	10	16	205	1

 

 "With the exception of the farms, these were concentrated for the most part in close proximity to the ironworks and collieries. By this time the parish had assumed in large measure the settlement pattern which prevailed into the present century. The former small centres of population had expanded and joined together to form the villages of the parish.
The largest of these, the village of Ystalyfera, was the product of a number of such centres --- at Craig Arw and Craig-y-merched overlooking the ironworks, at Pantyffynnon and Ystalyfera Uchaf on the southwestern and north-western extremities respectively of the ironworks and these were joined together by the settlement at Gwern Fawr on the lower slopes of the Allt-y-grug Mountain.
The village of Pontardawe was the product of the merger of the settlements at Ynysgelynen, the Cross, Maes lago, Tir-y-bont and Craig Llangiwg, all linked together by smaller collections of dwellings.
In much the same way, Cwmllynfell was founded on the settlements at Tir Owen Gwyn, Llwyncelyn, Hendreforgan and Cwmllynfell; Brynaman on the settlements at Gwter Fawr, Clynboidy and Brynaman itself; and Gwauncaegurwen on those at Mairdy, Pwll-y-wrach, Cwmddrisien and Mount Pleasant.

Villages

The following table will give an indication of how the emerging villages of the parish increased i n terms of dwelling places during the third quarter of the nineteenth century:

The above figures do not give a complete picture of the urbanisation of the parish or of the size of the villages for in the case of a number of the latter there was considerable settlement outside the bounds of the parish. The villages of Brynaman and Cwmllynfell, for instance, included settled areas within the neighbouring parish of Llangadog, a substantial portion of the village of Cwm-twrch lay within the parish of Ystradgynlais and the village of Pontardawe extended into the parish of Rhyndwyglydach."

 

---

  Cymanfa Ganu etc

 

Data copied from 5 booklets relating to musical/choral events in the 1930s/1940s in Cwmgors, GCG and Pontardawe
The booklets appear to have belonged to various members of my Tirbach Davies family, Cwmgors

 

1937, Feb 9th & 10th

Welfare Hall, GCG
Presentation of Dr Joseph Parry's Opera "BLODWEN"
By the Carmel Chapel Operatic Society: Augmented by an Orchestra

Conductor - *Mr Dd Roberts, A. Mus., LCM (GCG)
Accompanist - *Mr Cyril Howells BA (GCG)
Producers - Mr W M Thomas (Clifton) & Mr T H Griffiths BA
Dance Instructor - Mr Joe ap Morgan

Chairmen

Tuesday Night - Mr Glyn Meredith BA (Solicitor)
Wednesday Night - Mr Cyril Davies ME, Agent, AAC

Chairman of Committee - Mr Morgan Hicks
Treasurer - Mr Wm Thomas
Secretaries - Mr D Rowland Jones BA & Mr Kenneth James BA

Dramatis Personae

• Blodwen - *Madam Jenny Evans-Jones, soprano, Gwynfe
• Ellen - *Madam Ruth Jones-Morris, soprano, GCG
• Lady Maelor - *Madam Teify Jones-Thomas, contralto, Garnant
• Sir Howell Ddu - *Mr Emlyn Burns (National winner), tenor, Nantyffyllon)
• Arthur of Berwyn - *Mr Emlyn Jones (National winner), baritone, Cwmllynfell
• Iolo - *Mr Owen Morgan, bass, GCG
• A Monk - Mr Rhydderch Davies
• Rhys Gwyn - Mr Tom Watkins
• Messengers - Tim G Jones, D Rowland Jones BA, Maldwyn Jenkins, Meurig Rees, Mel Llan Davies

*There are photographs in the pamphlet for those people marked *

 

Llun y Pasg, Ebrill 10, 1939

TABERNACL, CWMGORS
RHAGLEN
CYMANFA GANU UNDEBOL
Dan nawdd eglwysi y Tabernacl, Carmel a Seion
I'w chynnal yn y capel uchod
Llun y Pasg: Ebrill 10, 1939

Arweinydd : Parch. Thomas Rosser, Aberdyfi
Organydd - Mr D J Evans C.R.A.M., Cwmgors

Llywyddion y Gymanfa:

• Parch. T M Roderick, Tabernacl
• Parch. Ll C Huws, BA, Carmel

Llywyddion y Dydd:

• Bore - Parch T M Roderick, Tabernacl
• Prynhawn - Parch LL. C Huws BA, Carmel
• Hwyr - Mr T Glen Jones, Seion

Swyddogion y Pwyllgor:

• Cadeirydd - Mr Evan Lloyd, GCG
• Trysorydd - Mr David Edwards, Cwmgors

Ysgrifenyddion:

• Mr D J Davies, 21 Llwyn Rd, Cwmgors
• Mr David J Jones, 23 New Rd, GCG

 

Trefn y Rehearsals

• Ionawr 29
• Seion. Arweinydd;  Mr Dan Lloyd, Seion
• Carmel. Arweinydd; Mr Trefor Jenkins, Tabernacl

• Chwefror 26
• Seion. Arweinydd; Mr Idris Smith, Carmel
• Tabernacl. Arweinydd; Mr Dan Lloyd, Seion

• Mawrth 26
• Seion. Arweinydd; Mr Trefor Jenkins, Tabernacl
• Carmel. Arweinydd; Mr Idris Smith, Carmel

• Ebrill 9
• Tabernacl. Arweinydd; Y Parch Thomas Rosser

Arweinyddion y Blynyddoedd Dilynol;

• 1940 - Mr W J Evans, Aberystwyth (gynt o Aberdar)
• 1941 - Mr John Williams, FRCO., ARCM., Bangor

Beirniaid

• Y Don - Parch Tom Rosser, Aberdyfi
• Yr Emyn - Mr Emlyn Evans (Emlyn Aman), Brynaman

Hymns

• Stella.   Glyntaf.   Mae'r Byd yn Llawn o Degwch.  Ymbil.  Blodau's Iesu.  Holwyddoreg.  Am Waed yr Oen.  Cysgod y Gorlan.  Yr Ysgol Sul.  Pwy Sydd ar Du'r Arglwydd ?  
• Ely.  St Joseph.  Talfryn.  Gerontius.  Llanybyther.  Dowlais.  Cymod.  Prague.  
• Penfro.  Salome.  Rachel.  Silyn.  Bryngogarth.  Dinbych.  Mwl.  Trefor.  Finlandia.  Emyn Buddugol Cymanfa 1938.  Mornington.

 

There is a balance sheet for 1938 at the back of the booklet showing Receipts of £34.4.3 and a balance in hand of £17.19.8.
They are signed by;

• Ysgrifenyddion; Lewis Jones (Seion) & W D Jones (Carmel)
• Trysorydd; David Edwards (Carmel)

And certified as correct by;

• Thos Bartholomew (Carmel) & E Myrddin Thomas (Seion)

 

Rhaglen Goffa: Dr Joseph Parry 1841 - 1941

RHAGLEN GOFFA :

 DR JOSEPH PARRY 1841 - 1941

"Swn ei gan sydd ar y mynydd, swn ei gan sydd yn y fro."

CYMANFA GANU UNDEBOL .
Eglwysi Carmel, GCG; Seion (B) a Tabernacl, Cwmgors
I'w chynnal yn y
TABERNACL, CWMGORS
Llun y Pasg, 1941. Am 10.30, 2 a 6 o'r gloch

Arweinydd: John Williams Ysw, FRCO, ARCM, Bangor

Organydd: D J Evans Ysw, CRAM, Cwmgors

Llywyddion y dydd:

• Bore - Y Parch Ll C Huws, BA, Carmel
• Prynhawn - William Moses Ysw, Seion
• Hwyr - Y Parch T M Roderick, Tabernacl

Swyddogion y Pwyllgor:

• Cadeirydd -Mr D J Jones, Carmel
• Trysorydd - Mr Myrddin Thomas, Seion
• Ysgrifennydd - Mr D J Davies (Llan) 21, Llwyd Rd, Cwmgors

Arweinyddion y dyfodol:

• 1942 - John Hughes Ysw, Mus.Bac., Treorci
• 1943 -  Gwilym R Jones Ysw, Rhydaman
• 1944 - Idris Griffiths Ysw, FRCO, LRAM, Llanelli

Rehearsals

Arweinydd: Mr Idris Smith, Mr Trefor Jenkins, Mr Dan Lloyd,
Organydd: Mr E Henry, Mr D Roberts, Mr D J Evans

 

Beirniad : Y Parch Gerallt Jones, BA, Brynaman

 

Hymns

• Glanceri.  Emlyn.  Sammah.  Dim ond Iesu.  Eirinwg.  Clawdd Madoc.  Hereford.  Gorffwysfa.  Atgyfodiad.  Rhondda.  Foelallt. Myrddin.  Nantgau.  Llan Baglan.  Trewen.  Craig y Pal.  Meinir.  Corda.  Hyfryd Lais.  Gweddi yr Arglwydd.  "Fe Welir Seion Fel y Wawr".  "Eisteddai Teithiwr Blin".  Nid oes neb rhy fach i'th garu.  Dyma Feibl Annwyl Iesu. Dewch i'r Ysgol.  Ysbryd Sanctaidd, Gwrando.  Cenhadon Bach ym Ni.  Gwynfyd y Nef.  Gosteg. For.  Neb ond Ti.  Moli'r Iesu.  

There is a balance sheet for 1940 at the back of the booklet showing Receipts of £38.8.2 and a balance in hand of £17.13.8.
They are signed by;

• Ysgrifenyddion; D J Davies (Llan) Tabernacl & David J Jones, Carmel
• Trysorydd; David Edwards, Tabernacl

And certified as correct by;

• Rhys Morgan, Carmel & T Jenkins, Tabernacl

 

Llun y Pasc, Ebrill 2, 1945

"Pob Perchen Anadl, Molianned yr Argwlydd"

TABERNACL, CWMGORS
Rhaglen
CYMANFA GANU UNDEBOL
Dan Nawdd Eglwysi:
Tabernacl, Seion (B) a Charmel
 I'w chynnal yn y Capel Uchod
Llun y Pasc, Ebrill 2, 1945
Cyfarfodydd i ddechrau am 10.30, 2 a 6 o'r gloch

Arweinydd: J ALBAN JENKINS Ysw, BA, LRAM, Rhyl

Organydd: D J Evans, CRAM, Cwmgors

Llywyddion y Gymanfa

• Parch T M Roderick & Parch LL C Huws, BA.

Llywyddion y Dydd:

• Bore - Mr D J Evans
• Prynhawn - Parch LL C Huws BA
• Hwyr -  Mr Willie Rees, Seion

Swyddogion y Pwyllgor:

• Cadeirydd - Mr Willie Rees, Seion
• Trysorydd - Mr Myrddin Thomas, Seion

Ysgrifenyddion:

• Mr D J Davies (Llan),  21 Llwyn Rd, Cwmgors & Mr J Angus C Roderick, Y Mans, Cwmgors

Beirniad - Parch Mr J Alban Jenkins, BA, LRAM, Rhyl;   Parch Mon Williams, BA, Brynaman

 

Hymns

• Emyn Buddugol Cymanfa 1943.  Criccieth.  Gweddi Plentyn (Joan).  Adnodau'r Plant.   O ! Am fynd i'r nef i fyw.  Sweet is the promise.  Cambria.  Aylwin.  Brynhaul.  Arweiniad. Flemming.  St Mary Magdalene.  Coronamento.  Aurelia.  Llanidloes (1).  Edith.  Bryn Cynlais.  Nerquis.  Llanbrynmair.  Rotterdam.  Lilian.  Melincwrt.  

 

There is a balance sheet for 1944 at the back of the booklet showing Receipts of £28.8.5 and a balance in hand of £19.6.5.
They are signed by;

• Ysgrifenyddion; D J Davies (Llan)
• Trysorydd; Myrddin Thomas

And certified as correct by;

• D Glyn Davies,Tabernacl & Dd Emlyn Smith, Carmel

 

Celebrity Concert, November 11th, 1942

Public Hall, Pontardawe
Programme of Grand Celebrity Concert
In Aid if the Pontardawe Central Comforts Fund
Armistice Night, Wednesday Evening, November 11th, 1942

Artistes:

• *Ruth Naylor: the celebrated operatic and concert soprano
• *Heddle Nash: the famous English tenor
• *Robert Easton: the celebrated bass
•  
• The Pontardawe Male Singers (Conductor, Mr David Daniel)

At the Piano: Mr Trevor Davies

Doors open at 6.00 pm; to commence 7.00 prompt

NO SMOKING PLEASE

*There are photographs in the programme for the 3 principal solo artistes

 

Programme

Part 1

"God Save the King"

1. Chorus. "New Quay Fishermen Song" (D Mackenzie).  - Pontardawe Male Singers
2. Solo.  "All Hail Thou Dwelling" (Faust/Gounod) - Heddle Nash
3. Solo. Antonia's Aria from 3rd Act "Tales of Hoffman"  (Offenbach) - Ruth Naylor
4. Solo. "Arise, ye Subterranean Winds" (Purcell)  - Robert Easton
5. Duet. "Ah! Love me a Little" (Madam Butterfly/Puccini) - Ruth Naylor & Heddle Nash
6. Chorus.  "Uncle Ned" (Stephen Foster) - Pontardawe Male Singers

Interval (Five minutes)

Part II

1. Chorus. "Soldier's Chorus" (Faust/Gounod) - Pontardawe Male Singers
2. Solo.  a) "When I Come Back Home" (Rizzi)  b) "The Church Bells of England" (Kennedy Russell) - Robert Easton
3. Solo. "Mami's Aria" (La Boheme/Puccini)  - Ruth Naylor
4. Solo. a) "When the Bloom is on the Rye" (arr. Gerald Moore)  b) "La Danza" (Neopolitan Tarantella/Rossini)  - Heddle Nash
5. Chorus. Selected. - Pontardawe Male Singers
6. Trio.  "Holy Angels"  (Faust/Gounod) - Ruth Naylor, Heddle Nash & Robert Easton

 

"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"

 

Acknowledgment

Concert Organisers and Secretaries: Misses S J James, S R Williams, C Chilcott, and Mr Richard Cooper desire to express their thanks for your support.

 

---

What's New

 

2009

November

10 photographs contributed (via Roy Davies) by Mrs Lucile Morris from Morriston, part of a collection of photographs and cards compiled by her late husband Hywel
• Miscellaneous
• Clydach
• Ystradgynlais
• Brynamman
• Amman Valley

October

Cymanfa Ganu etc Data from booklets relating to musical/choral events in the 1930s/1940s in Cwmgors, GCG & Pontardawe. Contributed by Gareth Hicks

July

Three photographs by Paul Reynolds of the GCG railway, taken c 1973

May

Photograph of 'Godrergraig Chapel Band of Hope on stage at the Coliseum Theatre Ystalyfera circa 1948' -  contributed by Mrs Hetty Davies, Riverside Court, Pontardawe via Roy Davies

March

• Article by John Phillips    A JOURNEY THROUGH THE WAUN OF MY CHILDHOOD
•  
• New entry under Local People of Note for Morris, Kenneth Vennor (1879-1937) --- author of fantasy literature (Contributed by Rina Callingham)

February

• The following article has been added to this site with the kind permission of the publishers and author;
  Reynolds, Paul R. The 1838 Gwaun-cae-Gurwen railway : an abandoned  feeder to the Swansea canal.   Journal of the Railway & Canal Historical Society, 32:7 (1998), 500-505. Publisher: Railway and Canal Historical Society. ISSN 00338834.
•  
• Ten local photographs sent in via Roy Davies, covering Ammanford/Bettws; Black Mountains; Brynamman; Cwmllynfell; Cwmtwrch; GCG; Tairgwaith. Contributors were Mr and Mrs William John Evans, Gwauncaegurwen; and Mrs Lilian Ray, Gwauncaegurwen

    2008

September

•  Extracts from The South Wales Coalfield. Edited by A P Barnett & David Willson-Lloyd. Published by The Business Statistics Co Ltd, Cardiff. 1921
  These relate to the Gwaun-cae-gurwen Colliery Co Ltd and the mines of Old Pit, Maerdy and East Pit.   Contributed by David Michael

July

• Various Pontardawe School photographs - contributed by  Mr and Mrs Vernon Richards of Alltwen (July 2008)

February

• Graveyard plan for Baran chapel - compiled by Roy Davies
• Rees, Thomas & Thomas, John. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru.   (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes, 1871+.  On Genuki  are now the ( Welsh) extracts from this book relating to Gwrhyd; Rhydyfro; Pantteg - all now with translations

January

• 1891 census transcriptions for Pontardawe Registration District - on Genuki
•  
• Collection of Cwmgors Rugby Team pictures

 

 

2007

December

• Description of Caegurwen hamlet based on 1871 census by Gareth Hicks
• Rees, Thomas & Thomas, John. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru.   (History of the Welsh Independent Churches), 4 volumes, 1871+.  On Genuki  are now the ( Welsh) extracts from this book relating to Carmel, GCG; Bethel, Cwmaman; Gibea, Upper Brynaman - all now with translations

November

• Excerpts from the the Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthenshire News   -    Further material contributed by David Smith.
•  
• 1871 census transcriptions for Llangiwg & Ystradgynlais.  These have now been transferred to Genuki  where they are complete

September

• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 for Llangiwg parish - covers  Lower Brynamman, Cwmgors, Gwauncaegurwen, Rhydyfro, Tairgwaith,Ynysmudw and the parish in general
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923   - Extracts relating to Brynamman, Cwmllynfell and Quarter Bach
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1923  - Extracts for Betws parish
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 -  section for Cwmamman
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 -  section for Ystalyfera
• Kelly's Directory of South Wales 1923 - Pontardawe section
• Kelly's Directory South Wales 1923      - Private Residents and Commercial for Ammanford
•  
• Telephone Directory 1920  Llandilo area - transcribed for local villages by Rina Callingham/Gareth Hicks

August

• Photograph of site next to St. Peter's Church where Pontardawe Welsh School used to stand - contributed by Mr John Jones of Pontardawe (Pontardawe 8)

June

• Photograph from John Jones of Pontardawe - burnt out canal barge (Pontardawe 15)
• Photograph from John Jones of Pontardawe - Demolition of part of old Pontardawe Grammar school building (Pontardawe 8)

May

• Schools - A new section on education/schools in the district  - by Gareth Hicks
• Photograph from Roy Davies - fire at old Pontardawe Grammar school building  (Pontardawe 8)

 

April

• Photograph of Pontardawe Foundry - contributed by Roy Davies
•  
• South Wales Miners Federation (SWMF) Register of Deaths in the South Wales coalfield between 5 January 1934 and 17 January 1941.
  This is a letter written by Dr Glen Jenkins to the Editor of the Glamorgan Family History Society's journal in March 2006
  It relates  to an index of the above Register of Deaths compiled by him and  now held by the Library and Information Services, University of Wales Swansea

 

March

• Recollections of Cwmgors village during World War II, 1939-45     by Tommy Vaughan
•  
• 'Ben Davies (Pant-teg) recalls his early schooldays' contributed  by Gwenda Lewis
•  
• Major upgrade to the Coal mining section by Gareth Hicks
•  
• See the Books and articles section for details of this recently published local book;   Twenty 20 Memories By Hywel Gwyn Evans,      

 

 

---

2006

February

• Details of the Bevan family who lived at Nant-y-gaseg Isaf farm in 1841          -    Contributed by Rina Callingham

March

• Brynaman rugby photographs, various -  plus Home guard/Carnival/Jack Rees on  Brynamman 6          -    Contributed by Brian James/Roy Davies
•  
• A  transcription by Gareth Hicks of some data from the headstones from part of Hen Garmel graveyard from a copy document contributed by Rina Callingham

 April

• Captain Daniel Nicholas of Ynysmeudwy     -    Contributed by Eugena Hopkin of Craigcefnparc (Roy Davies)
  A lot of interesting material, connection to Jemima Nicholas of 'Last invasion of Britain' fame
•  
• Will of John Thomas of Cwmnanthir.   -   Contributed by Rina Callingham
•  
• The History Of Baran Chapel 1805-2005.    -  Written and contributed by Eugena Hopkin

 May

• Accident at Old Pit on 1 September 1847 - Contributed by Caryl Jones

 June

• Gellionen chapel  - in front of it can be seen the sinking of the natural gas pipeline running  from Milford Haven to storage tanks in Aberdulais.   -   Contributed by Roy Davies

  August

• Update by Rina Callingham of her research article re the Rev Roger Howell (Baran)

November

• Excerpts from the the Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthenshire News   -    Contributed by David Smith.

 

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Acknowledgements

 

 

The whole point of this site is to bring together on the internet as much local historic material as I can get hold of.
There are two books that I have so far relied on quite heavily in this respect and I would comment as follows;

• History of Pontardawe and District by John Henry Davies, published in 1967 - this book is within copyright.
  I can only remotely justify copying  extracts from it because John Henry's g grandfather, David Davies, was my ggg grandfather. It is my belief that he wrote the book out of love for and interest in his district and would be content that his work is now being made freely available to the wider public through the medium of this site.
  The local road network diagram on the site's front page is from the above book
• The History of Pontardawe, by John E Morgan (Hirfryn) 1911; and Old Characters of Gellinudd, 1908 by the same author. Both books have been translated by Ivor Griffiths. No copyright problem here and the translator has very kindly agreed to my using material from the translations. I would  like to record my particular gratitude to John Morgan for including the section about my gg grandfather, John Hicks, who was also his grandfather.

There are many named contributors to the site who I am indebted too but  I would particularly like to record my sincere thanks to Roy Davies of Pontardawe who has and continues to find much suitable material for the site.

Gareth Hicks ©

Copyright notice

 

 

Text data anywhere on this site may be copied for personal research purposes ONLY

However, I make no representations whatsoever regarding the copyright position of any material, especially photographs and the latter are NOT available for copying in any form without my prior agreement

Should anyone have an ownership interest in the copyright of any material on the site please contact me

See also the separate copyright notice on the Picture Gallery page.

Gareth Hicks ©